Yarn-advancing reel



1947. A. L. EWING 2,428,704

- YARu-Anvmc-me REEL I Filed D50. 7, 1945 2 Sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

.AL w/v 1.. fw/zva Oct. 7, 1947. Ew|NG YARN-ADVANCING REEL Filed Dec. '7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 7, 1947 YARN-ADVANCING REEL Alvin L. Ewing, Richmond, Va; assignor to E. I. f

du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation oi Delaware Application December 7, 1945, Serial No. 633,339

This invention relates to an apparatus for advancing yarns. More particularly, it relates to a yarn-advancing reel for continuously and progressively advancing yarn in the form of a helix;

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved yarn-advancing reel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn-advancing reel which effectively and continuously advances a yarn along the length thereoi.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic advancing reel.

Other and additional objects will appear hereinafter.

The objects of the invention are accomplished, in general, by winding yarn in the form of a helix onto a rotary reel having a plurality of yarnsupporting bars, each of which bars is moved axially in the direction of the yarn travel over the reel, whereby the yarn carried thereby is progressively and continuously advanced over the reel and, when each bar reaches the limit of its axial movement in the direction of the yarn travel, it is retracted (moved radially inwardly) from the yarn and moved axially in a direction opposite to the yarn travel and radially outwardly to bring it into yarn-supporting position. The axial (longitudinal) movement is imparted to the yarnsupporting bars by a cam mechanism, hereinafter more fully'explained. The radial movement of the bars is obtained by fluid-actuated pistons to which the yam-carrying bars are connected. The actuation of the pistons, the rotation of the reel and the axial movements of the bars are in timed relationship to effect the operations in the desired sequence.

The details and manner 01! practicing th invention will become clear from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a yam- 9 Claims. (01. 23'--l1.6)

2 vided with a hub 18 to which there is secured a main drive gear l8, which cooperates with an appropriately driven gear (not shown) to impart rotary motion to the reel. Hub I6 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 20 carried on a support 22 appropriately mounted in the machine, and flanged end plate I! is secured to one end of a shaft 24 which is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 26 carried by a pillow block 28 which, in turn,

is carried on a support 30 of the machine.

Flanged end plate 12 is provided with a plurality of slots 34 spaced circumferentially'around and adjacent the outer periphery thereof. Yamcarrying bars 36 are mounted in the apparatus,

advancing reel embodying the principles of the as hereinafter more fully explained, so that one end of each bar is respectively disposed in a slot 34 wherein it can move both axially and radially. Each bar 36 extends axially of the reel and passes through a slot 38 of a guide and retaining ring 40, which is secured to both main supporting axle l0 and the flange of end piece l4. \Slot 33 also permits the respective yam-carrying bar 38 extending therethrough to move axially and radially therein. The slots 34 and 38, in which a yamcarrying bar 36 is positioned, are in alignment.

The end of each'yarn-carrying bar 36 extending beyond the guide and retaining ring 40 is provided with screw thread segments 44, which are adapted to cooperate with an internal thread 48 on a flanged cam member 43. For reasons which will become apparent, flanged cam member 48 is. pro-. vided with a receding cam 50. A gear 52 is secured by lag bolts 54 to cam member 48, and such gear is driven by a cooperating driving gear (not shown) whereby member 48 rotates preferably at a speed different from that of the axle Ill.

Main supporting axle I0 is provided with a plurality of pairs of tubes 58 and 60 which extend axially, as shown in Figure 1. In the form shown, one pair of tubes 53 and 60 cooperates with one yarn-supporting bar 33 respectively, as will now be explained.

Each pair of tubes 58 and 60 is connected by a pair of cylinders G4,in each of which a piston 66 is positioned. The piston rod 68 of each piston is slidably mounted in a cylinder h'ead l0, and the free endof piston rod 68 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 12. The other end i of link 12 is provided with a bifurcated member 16, in which bar 36 is positioned and secured by pins 18.

The free ends of each pair ot-tubes 58 and v 60 terminate in close proximity to a rotary valve which is positioned in a pressure chamber 82. Compressed air is supplied to the pressure chamber 82 through a passage 83 which is connected to an air inlet 84, which in turn is connected to a conduit 86 leading to a suitable source of supply (not shown).

The valve 80 is provided with a port 88 which, when brought into position, permits air to enter tube 58, whereupon it will act on pistons 66 to raise the same. The upward movement of pistons 66 will, through links 12, move bars ,36 ;;radially upwardly, the upward movement beinglimited by the flange of the flanged end plate l2 and the top of the guide and retaining ring 40.

Valve 80 is also provided with another port 90 which, when brought into position, connects tube 60 with pressure chamber 82 so thatlair from the;

pressure chamber 82 will enter tube 60 and act on pistons 66 to depress the same, whereby bar 36- will be moved radially inwardly. The valve is also provided with a port 92, which is adapted to connect the tube 58 with exhaust 94 when port 90 is in'communicatlon with both pressure chamber 82 and tube 60. It is thus apparent that when the port. 80 is in position to connect the pressure chamber 82 with the'tube 60 and the tube 58 is connected-throughthe port 92 to the exhaust 94, air from the pressure chamber 82- will act on the pistons 66 to move them radially inwardly, whereby the yarn-carrying bar will be moved radially inwardly and the air in tube 58 will be exhausted through exhaust 94. A gear 96, secured by a key,

88 to the valve, cooperates with a driven gear (not, v

shown) to impart rotary movement to the valve. It is thus apparent that the respective pistons. 66 cooperating with a bar 36 will at predetermined periods be actuated to move said bar radially outwardly and inwardly. v 4

A diaphragm I00 is appropriately secured to the 'reel to protect the parts shielded thereby.

'In operation. air is introduced through the con-., duit 88 to the pressure chamber 82. All of the tubes 58. except that at the lowermost position in the reel, at this time are connected to port 88, with the result that pistons 66 actuated by the air will be forced upwardly whereby the'bars 36 will be moved radially outwardly so that thread segments 44 will .be in cooperative relationshipwith advancing thread 460! thecam member 48. A yarn is drawn onto and wound ina helix on the reel to a point where it. is drawn on the reel. The main drive gear 18, the cam drive gear 62 and the valve gear 96 are actuated to rotate'the parts of the reel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of -yarnreel respectively driven thereby, Duringrotation ,"tuation-of saidpneumatic-actuated .means at of the reel and cammember 48 at different speeds,

left as viewed in Figure 1) whereby the yarn carvanced over the length of the reel to the point of discharge. When ayarn-carrying bar 36 reaches the limit of itsyarn-advancing movement, valve 80 has been rotated to a position to reverse the j air pressure on the pistons and actuate them to move such bar radially inwardly. In other words, I at this time further delivery of air through port 68 to the tube 58 isinterrupted, and port 90 has been brought in alignment with tube 60 whereby air from the pressure chamber 82 is introduced- 1. In an apparatus for struction isparticularly suitable in a reel where the yarn-carrying surface of the bars is straight,

since it reduces wear of the parts but makes each advancing cycle long and extend over one or more revolutions of the reel. However, if the reel is or a type which is designed to stretch the yarns or relax their tensioniat desired points by means of tapered bars, it is desirable to have more than one bar returning from the yarn sheet so as to reduce the advancing cycle to very short intervals or, in otherwords, increase the frequency to several advancing cycles per revolution of the reel in order to minimize sudden tension variations at a tapered part of the reel. Thus, in general, the invention is not restricted as to the number of bars re turned at one time andthetimes therefor.

As shown by the description, pneumatic pistons are preferred. However, the invention is not restricted thereto. The pistons can be actuatedby any fluid, either, pneumatic or hydraulic, as desired. r a The invention is not restricted to the use of two pistons with each supporting bar, as hereinbefore described. Any number of pistons with each bar can be used. I

The invention is applicable to yarn'ccmposed of continuous filaments, staple fibers, rope, ribbons, and other similar articles or continuous lengthy Since it is obvious that many changes andmodi- 1; fications can be made in the above-described'details without departing'from the nature and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the f invention is not to be limited thereto except set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim: i continuously advancing yarn and the like in theform of a helix,, a

contacting bars arranged circumierentially of the reel, pneumatic-actuated means directlyconhected to each of said bars and adaptedto'move each '01- said bars; radiallyinto and out of yarncont'acting position, 'means to control the ac-,

each yarn-carrying bar is movedaxially (to the J'predetermined times to move each of said bars f radially in the desired direction, means to move rled thereby is progressively andcontinuously ad.-

each of said bars when in yam-contacting .po-

into tube 60, with the result that pistons 66 will 1 be moved radially inwardly andbar 36 will be similarly moved radially inwardly and out of contact with the yarn. ,When the valve is in this position,

port 92 connects tube 58 with exhaust 94 whereby the air in tube 58 will be exhausted. At the moment thread segments 44 disengage thread 46,

cam5ll engages the end of the bar 36 and moves across said reel, and means to move each, oi said herein-the direction opposite to the yarn travel.

52.11: an apparatus for continuouslyadvancing yarn and the like in the form of a helix, a reel,

means to rotate said reel, a plurality 0i" yarn-y contacting bars arrsmgedf.circumferentially. or thereel, means including a piston to move said bars radially into and out or yarn-contacting.

position, means to move each of the bars when in yarn-contacting position axially in the direction of the yarn travel, and means to actuate said piston at predetermined times to move each 4 3. In an apparatus for continuously advanc ing yarn and the like in the form of a helix,

a reel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of cooperating yarn-contacting bars arranged circumferentially of the reel, means including a piston to move said bars radially into and out of yarn-contacting positionfmeans to move each of the bars when in yarn-contacting position axially in the direction of the yarn travel, and a rotating valve to actuate said piston at predetermined times to move each of said bars radially out of yarncontacting position and into yarn-contacting position respectively.

4. In an apparatus for continuously advancing yarn and the like in the form of a helix, a reel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of yarn-contacting bars arranged circumferentially of the reel, means including a piston to move said bars radially into and out of yarn-contacting position, means to move each of the bars when in yarn-contacting position axially in the direction of the yarn travel, means to actuate said piston at predetermined times to move each of said bars radially out of yarn-contacting position and into yarn-contacting position respectively, and means to move said bars when out of yarn-contacting position axially in the direction opposite to the yarn travel.

5. In an apparatus for continuously advancing yarn and the like in the form ofa helix, a reel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of yarn-contacting bars arranged circumferentially of the reel, means including a piston to move said bars radially into .and out of yarncontacting position, means to move each of the bars when in yarn-contacting position axially in the direction of the yarn travel, a rotating valve to actuate said piston at predetermined times to move each of said bars radially out of yarn-contacting position and into yarn-contacting position respectively, and means to move said bars when out of yarn contacting position axially in the direction opposite to the yarn travel.

6. In an apparatus for continuously advancing yarn and the like in the form of a helix, 2. reel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of yarn-contacting bars arranged circumferentially of the reel, means including a piston to move said bars radially into and out of yarncontacting position, each of said bars having screw thread segments at one end thereof, a member having a thread adapted to be engaged by the screw thread segments of each bar when said bar is in yarn-contacting position whereby said bar will be moved axially in the direction oi. the yarn travel, means to actuate said piston at predetermined times to move each of said bars radially out of yarn-contacting position and into yarn-contacting position respectively, and means to move each of said bars axially in the direction opposite to th yarn travel when said bar is out of yarn-contacting position.

7. In an apparatus for continuously advancing yarn and the like in the form oi'a helix, a reel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of yarncontacting bars arranged circumferentially of the reel, means including a piston to move said bars radially into and out of yarn-contacting position each of said bars having screw thread segments at one end thereof, a member having a thread adapted to be engaged by th screw thread segments of each bar when said bar is in yarn contacting position whereby said bar will be moved axially in the direction of the yarn travel, means to actuate said piston at predetermined times to move each of said bars radially out of yarn-contacting position and into yarn-contacting position respectively, and cam means to move each of said bars axially in the direction opposite to the yarn travel when said bar is out 01' yarn-contacting position.

8. In an apparatus for continuously advancing yarn and the like in the form of a helix, a reel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of yarn-contacting bars arranged circumferentially of the reel, means including a piston to move said bars radially into and out of yarn-contacting position, each of said bars having screw thread segments at one end thereof, a member having an internal thread adapted to be engaged by the screw thread segments of each bar when said bar is in yarn-contacting position whereby said bar will be moved axially in the direction of the yarn travel, means to actuate said piston at predetermined times to move each of said bars radially out of yarn-contacting po sition and into tively, and cam means to move each of said bars axially in the direction opposite to the yarn travel as soon as the thread segments thereof disengage said internal thread.

9. In an apparatus for continuously advancing yarn and the like in the form of a helix, a reel having a main supporting axle, a plurality of yarn-contacting bars arranged circumferentially of said reel, means to rotate said reel about the center axis of said axle, a plurality of pairs of radially extending cylinders in said axle, a piston slidably positioned in each of said cylinders, said axle being provided with a plurality of pairs of passages, one pair of said passages being connected respectively to one pair of said cylinders so that upon supply of pressure fluid to either of said passages theother of said pas sages will constitute an exhaust and the pistons in said cylinders will be moved radially of said reel, means connecting the piston rod of a pair of said pistons to one bar whereby upon-movement of said pistons the bar connected thereto will be correspondingly moved, means to supply fluid pressure, and a rotary valve controlling at predetermined times the admission of said fluid pressure to and the exhaust from each pair of cylinders through said passages whereby the bar connected to the pistons in said cylinders will be moved radially into and out of yarn-contacting position in accordance with the movement of said pistons.

ALVIN L. EWING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,378,211 Furness June 12, 1945 2,313,140 Furness Mar. 9, 1943 yarn-contacting position respec-- 

